Another Open Letter to Bush

President Bush gave a speech yesterday in Mount Vernon, Va. at George Washington’s home in honor of his 275th birthday. He decided this was a great chance to compare himself to yet another great American President (a sort of Ying-Yang type thing I suppose) and try to justify his Iraq policies. This guy is getting beyond lame duck and into just sad.

Mr. President, please read this. I hate to see you unknowingly create such great satire.

“(W)e remember that the father of our country believed that the freedoms we secured in our revolution were not meant for Americans alone."

I do not believe George Washington, or the first George W as you referred to him, intended this to mean what you think it to mean. This is not a statement intended to justify starting wars in other countries. It is a statement intended to defend your freedoms. It means that all people are free, not just Americans. It’s just that not all nations recognize those freedoms. That Sir is what makes us such a great country.

"On the field of battle, Washington's forces were facing a mighty empire, and the odds against them were overwhelming. The ragged Continental Army lost more battles than it won, suffered waves of desertions, and stood on the brink of disaster many times. Yet George Washington's calm hand and determination kept the cause of independence and the principles of our Declaration alive."

Mr. President, I think you should refrain from using the Revolutionary War imagery to sell the Iraq war. In this case, it is we that are the mighty empire and the odds were with us. We are not the ragged army in Iraq and we have not suffered waves of desertions. The only brink of disaster is your handling of the war, Sir.

General Washington and the Minutemen were insurgents Mr. President. They broke all the rules of war and used many of the same tactics those we are fighting in Iraq are using today. They went as far as to dress up as Indians (not wearing their uniforms when attacking) to board ships and toss tea into the harbor. If that is not terrorism, what is? Had they access to IED’s I guarantee you they would have used them as well. I think when one is defending their home against an invading army they tend to do whatever will work. They usually win as well because the invading army has to go home at sometime.

"After winning the war, Washington did what victorious leaders rarely did at the time. He voluntarily gave up power.”

Mr. President, you are still in power in Iraq. In reality, you are sending more troops to Iraq and preparing our country for a completely new war in that nation. You declared victory in 2003 yet require more troops in 2007. Had you voluntarily given up power instead of constantly changing the goals we would not be where we are today. Finding weapons of mass destruction quickly became overthrowing Saddam. Not long after the statue fell, it became to help the Iraqis have an election; then another election; then write a constitution; then have another election. They do not believe you ever intend to leave.

"Over the centuries, America has succeeded because we have always tried to maintain the decency and the honor of our first president.”

This was true Mr. President and it was true right up until you invaded Iraq. I wish to G-d that you would study the words you just spoke today and would study the history of the nation you proclaim to love. We are repeating history right now so we already know you did not learn it. We are repeating all the worst aspects of all the lost wars and I beg you to end it.

Stop spinning this disaster and stop looking for a way to salvage your legacy. Go down in history as a leader who learned from his mistakes. That will make you stand out Sir because no leader has done that yet.

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Excellent & spot-on commentary, Brad. Dubya’s speech makes me proud to be an American … I just wish HE weren’t-! George Washington read some pretty deep literature; George Dubya reads My Pet Goat”. George Washington was a successful, self-taught surveyor, businessman, and military officer; George Dubya has failed spectacularly in everything he’s done in his life thus far. George Washington volunteered for service; George Dubya joined a rich boys’ refuge to avoid the draft, & deserted from that, too. George Washington surrounded himself with competent & honorable people; George Dubya surrounds himself with the likes of Karl Rove & Condi Rice: bootlickers & syncophants with no ethics & less honor, who don’t hesitate to lie, cheat, or steal to achieve their/his goals.

Someone should have paraphrased to his smirking, vacant, ignorant face, “…& you, Sir, are no George Washington!”